The controversial artworks, deemed offensive by residents, will be taken down swiftly as the local authorities address concerns.
Murals above shop fronts in Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Balaclava will be immediately removed following heavy community backlash.
The local council of Port Phillip funded the mural series on Carlisle Street before the Israeli government formally declared war against the terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7.
However, artist Michael Porter’s work was recently slammed for depicting anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jewish men.
Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo said the council would remove the portraits over the next few days from Nov. 17.
“When the council was first made aware that the artist’s figures could be interpreted as anti-Semitic, we reached out to several Jewish community leaders for advice … the current [Israel-Hamas] conflict has understandably heightened sensitivities, and the council has no desire to add to the pain and distress many of our community are already feeling,” she…
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